I really hate giving less than a stellar review for small businesses but I also feel that I have to be honest about the experience and I’ve received better manicures and pedicures at other nail salons. To be fair, it does seem that this location is more geared towards hair than nails but I think it’s better to focus on what you’re good at than expand to cover all areas of beauty and squeeze in two pedicure spa chairs. I made an appointment earlier in the week and arrived on time but still had to wait about 20 minutes as they finished cutting people’s hair. All in all, the whole mani/pedi experience took two hours out of my busy Friday, which I definitely wasn’t anticipating. First, we did my nails. I brought my own nail color from home and it all went well until we got to the cuticle trimming. I haven’t had a professional manicure in quite some time but I didn’t remember this portion being as painful as it was. One of my fingers, in particular, got roughed up a bit and was so sore that I had to put a band aid with neosporin on it for a couple of days to help it heal and stop stinging. Aside from that, my nails looked nice for a couple of weeks. Then, we moved on to the pedicure. As others have mentioned, the chairs aren’t the nicest but they get the job done. I asked for a French pedicure, which cost an extra $ 5. While it looked nice for a few days, it seemed to chip faster than most of my professional pedicures do. Two weeks later and it already needed touch ups while I can usually make my pedicures last closer to a month. Thankfully, I had a Groupon for this because I wouldn’t have been happy to pay full price.
Monique S.
Rating des Ortes: 1 San Diego, CA
Dianne is a nice lady, but the salon is filthy. They cover the spa chair with a beach towel because the chair is so nasty. Just not a very clean spot. My issue with this salon is not the service it’s simply the cleanliness.
Ma-e M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Anne Arundel County, MD
Dianne is a nice lady, really nice. She is very attentive. She is an owner and worker. She can do everything you need at the salon.
Selina W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Los Angeles, CA
I had a great experience to get my mani/pedi here, Dianna helped me pick and try on the colors, she’s very patient and like to talk to you. I will definitely come back.
Camille A.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Poway, CA
Loved how dianne did my hair today, will come back ;) I have been looking for a hair dresser and I think I’ll be going to her for all my hair needs
Angela M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
I got a mani pedi today, EXCELLENT job. Very happy with my nails. She really took her time and did an amazing job. The overall atmosphere in the shop is happy and fun. The owner, a lady, I didn’t catch her name, was the nicest woman. You could tell that she is passionate and cares about her clients. I had an appointment at 4:00 and they were ready for me immediately. I find that rare thesedays. A man came in to get his hair cut and she took the time to play with his 3 year old sin. It is so unusual to find a great, warm experience in a nail salon(and hair salon). I have had my nails done in many places but I will definitely return to this one. I’ve been looking for somewhere great to go consistently.
Dasha D.
Rating des Ortes: 1 San Diego, CA
Never again! I purchased two Groupons a few weeks ago for myself and a friend, and we went in the morning of 3÷5÷16. While at first Dianne was accommodating and opened her business 30 minutes earlier for us, there was very poor sense of time as 2 women came for their 10:30am appointment and had to wait another 35 minutes. Bad time management isn’t even a problem here. I am writing this because I left the salon with the WORST nail work I have ever seen or experienced. I cringe and laugh at these when I see the photos online, but that day I wanted to scream and cry if it weren’t for a lovely company of a friend who helped me laugh it off. The woman scratch the surface of my nails and didn’t take care of the cuticles at all. I asked for a french manicure(with a white line replaced with black), and, without applying a base coat first(remember, I still had scratched nails at that point), she applied a black line all over the top and my fingers, partly removing the nail polish from the skin, and then tried to paint the remaining nail area with the nude nail polish without spreading it over the surface area. This is one of those instances where a photo is worth a 1,000 words. Please take a look at the gallery as I posted about 4 – 5 photos to give you, reader, an idea of what my nails ended up looking like. Readers, beware! This is NOT the place you want to get your nails done!!!
Katy C.
Rating des Ortes: 2 San Diego, CA
My friend and I each purchased a Groupon for manicures and pedicures and I called a day ahead to make an appointment for both of us. We were 10 minutes early and never were addressed by the nail technicians. It looked like they had taken a couple other people right before our appointment time and didn’t care that we were waiting. We left 20 minutes after our appointment time and went to another nail salon. Plus one star because the hair stylist was nice.
Rachel R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Torrey Highlands, San Diego, CA
She did an awesome job on my nails & was very helpful in assisting me in what color to choose. Wonderful experience! I will be back.
Marge G.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
We enjoyed our groupon gift of manipedis. Dianne and her co workers did an excellent job and good conversation besides. Dianne noticed my husband had severe calluses and worked very hard to remedy his problem. The locale is not far from our house. I believe we will become regulars.
Nicolle R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Vallejo, CA
I didn’t make an appointment but they made sure to fit me in. when I came back I had to wait a while because the ladies in front of me showed up late. They apologized so much and did my pedicure and manicure at the same time to get me out quicker. it was awesome. I told her my feet were sensitive in certain spots so she was very gentle with them ! thank you so much :) I will be back in 2 weeks :)
Denice C.
Rating des Ortes: 3 San Diego, CA
Dianne is a very sweet person and has a good heart. She cares about the client as a person and not necessarily someone to just get business from(I hope)! I had a 10am appt but was running REALLY late. Dianne was gracious enough to change my appt to 11:30am without any hassle. That day did seem pretty slow for her though. With that being said, I would have to agree with other reviews. I’ve been to multiple nail salons, so I could tell her technique wasn’t… the most hygenic. I do not know if her instruments were even cleaned/sanitized beforehand. Sitting on the chair with an old dirty looking pillow during my pedicure was also gross. If there was suppose to be a hand and/or feet massage, they were just quick rubs. The finished look of my nails look pretty good though.
Christine G.
Rating des Ortes: 2 San Diego, CA
If you are using a Groupon for a Manicure and Pedicure, make sure you pick from the nail polish collection on the wall. The nail polish on top of the counter is $ 5 more, unless you are willing to pay extra. Upon arrival I was directed to seat in a spa chair that has a dirty pillow as a seat(no biggie) I noticed that my feet is going to be soaked in a basin that is placed over the foot base of the spa chair, which is fine, but I wasn’t sure if the water was used by someone else cause it’s been there, ready for me to soak my feet when I arrived. The lady that did my manicure and pedicure was Zeny, she was such a sweet lady and was very friendly. However, she did not cut and clean the sides of my toes enough. Zeny was being rushed by Diane as soon as the next appointment arrived. I guess you get what you pay for, but The whole point of promoting your business in Groupon is to make people find your business, like the service and enjoy the experience. I know I will not comeback here again.
Thanh N.
Rating des Ortes: 1 San Diego, CA
Worse place ever. The place is very dirty. Don’t go here !!! The lady talked bad about me in Vietnamese. I’m Vietnamese and I understood what she said so I just walked out during my pedicure. This place is not sanitize. Don’t go here. very dirty. Don’t buy the groupon.
Jodie B.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
Got a mani/pedi here a few nights ago for my first time and I am pretty happy with it. Dianne is super sweet and fun to talk too, and so far my mani/pedi is holding up pretty well. I will be back.
Meghan M.
Rating des Ortes: 4 San Diego, CA
Ms. Dianne is very easy to talk and I would go back for another mani & pedi. I was very impressed how it was a full salon. As a college student, it is not easy to always go and get your nails done and her groupon’s make it possible. I look forward to going back.
Sara I.
Rating des Ortes: 1 San Diego, CA
I first went via a Groupon I purchased for a gel manicure. The manicure didn’t last one day! I went back and Dianne fixed the manicure. I decided to go back there for a regular manicure last week. Dianne didn’t have a posted price list and I didn’t ask up front after she told me it would cost extra to remove the gel polish. Imagine my surprise when she charged me $ 10 for the removal! The $ 12 manicure price is standard but the overall cost of $ 22 was super expensive. I have paid an average of $ 3 for gel removal elsewhere. She also didn’t use foil etc but used the drill to remove the gel telling me it was better for my hands than the foil but typically took more time. BS! I will never go back there. So what was the point of the Groupon if she acts this way so she doesn’t get repeat business!!!
Eddy J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Escondido, CA
Dianne is amazing! Very friendly and welcoming. She did an amazing job. I would highly recommend her. She gave us a discount since we received multiple services from her. I would definitely go back again!
Melissa R.
Rating des Ortes: 5 San Diego, CA
Dianne is my secret weapon! I love her. She has done my hair for both semiformal and formal events. She does great up dos and superb blowouts! She also does great make up and nails. She cuts the hair of every member of my family. My brother and husband go to her on a regular basis. She helped me to repair my hair and my friends hair when we tried coloring and straightening it and it went all wrong. Not only is she gifted with the scissors –she’s a great make up and nail artist. I just love her!
Patrick C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 La Jolla, CA
I have been coming to Dianne for the last 9 months. I normally don’t pick and choose hairdressers anymore or stay loyal to one for so long. Hmmm sounding more and more like my dating/personal life. Moving on… Dianne does a very good job on my hair and offers a quality eyebrow wax as well. I get my eyebrows done by her about every other time I get a haircut. I have seen her do amazing color on women also. I would recommend her to male/female. She is entertaining while getting your haircut as well. Good conversation. Quite the comedian. You all know how stylists are in the industry. She is cool and doesn’t make you uncomfortable. Thank god. Lotta weirdos nowadays! You want a good haircut, coloring, or wax at a good price in a central area of SD and help a great local business, Dianne Artist Hair Salon is your place!